Cameryn Denae Tardy ~ 12/18/10

So excited to have

another little girl in the family!

Christmas Classroom Parties

Look at all the girls helping Dalon!

Claire sat on Santa's lap and told

him everything she wanted!

Halloween

Second in from left is Dalon with his friends at the Boo Bash ~ Wasco School
Morgan and her mom with Claire at the Boo Bash

Pumpkin Carving!

Rocket Derby

Dalon's last Rocket Derby, he took 2nd place!

The Fun Run

Each year Wasco School does one major fundraiser....this is it! The Fun Run ~ the kids have to

get sponsored for how many laps they can run. Claire ran 85% of it and Dalon was too cool to run so he and Michael walked it. So thankful for this beautiful day we had

Otter Creek Field Trip

Otter Creek is the most looked forward to field trip of all your years at Wasco. You hear about it since 3rd grade and you can't go until you are in 5th. We had a beautiful day! First we learned about the wetland park in Otter Creek and then we went into the marsh area. This is a swamp like body of water that stinks! We all (yes, Mom's & Dad's too...) went single file into the marsh that was about knee high.

Dalon and really all the boys, were in there element! He caught the only frog and found many bull frogs that they couldn't catch. We had to be careful not to get our feet stuck in the Hydrogenated soil at the bottom. A few kids fell right over trying to move too quickly. They lost 3 pairs of shoes this week, we were lucky to all leave with ours! This was so yucky and fun...the kids had a blast.

Then it was on to the creek. This water was quite cold but much more shallow. We were able to rinse off a bit of the dirt and muck from the swamp and we caught lots of frogs, a crafish, some small minnows and some beatles. Learned that Otter Creek runs into Ferson Creek (name of another Dist #303 school) which runs into the Illinois River on it's way to the Mississippi down to the Gulf of Mexico.

Dalon and Justin trying to find frogs and crafish.

I am so thankful to be able to go on these trips with my kids. I love to watch them interact with their friends. It's so fun to see them as they are among their peers. Dalon was such a gentleman....in the marsh there was a big dip in the soil as we were all coming out, so he stood there to help everyone so that they wouldn't step and fall down as they were coming out. Made me so proud! They really do apply those little things you try to teach and it is such a reward when you get to witness it ~ I Love my boy!

Claire's First Soccer Game!!

The girls getting warmed up for their first game! They all have so much fun together. Isabelle is on Claire's left, she and Claire are great friends and she lives two streets up! They would live together if we would let them. Her dad is the coach this season.

Claire taking her turn playing goalie. She scared us! When the first ball came into the goal area she just tapped it back in to play. Someone almost kicked it in when she caught it!!! Whew...

Waiting for the ball on defense! Claire smiled the whole game!! She is so fun to watch because she giggled the whole time and had a blast!

Downtown Chicago

What's Labor Day weekend without an Adventure?? Suzana and I decided to take the kids and go downtown! We first - took the train, second - took a water taxi to Michigan Ave.!! Kids could laydown and see the tall buildings along the river. We also enjoyed seeing all the cool boats, one yacht had a wave runner on board in the back.

Here we are after the water taxi standing in front of Clintons current apartment. Great View! Picture by Claire...

Third - walk a few blocks to Milenium Park to stick our feet in the chilly water. It was only 68* outside

Fourth - ate a late lunch at Grand Luxe Cafe (sorry no picture) then last to swim with Clinton at his apartment for an hour before catching the train back home.

Clinton bought the kids all an icecream (of course) and Dalon couldn't get enough of the view! We loved standing and looking up at the tall buildings, makes it look like they are moving but it's really the sky. Cool!!!

This was such a fun day. The kids really behaved (for the most part) and we all got to explore a bit and take in the beautiful downtown scenery. A trip we will do again and again. You can't get enough of the city and Dalon got to see the lights just as we were leaving. He prefers the city at night (takes after his mom). Next trip will have to be in the evening.....

First Day of School

5th Graders Rule the School at Wasco!!! Yep, Dalon is a big 5th grader. He is in Mrs. Clarks class but has the other two teachers for Math and Social Studies. This is his last year at Wasco and has already said, "Mom, I will miss Wasco when I go... it sure is a good school."

Morgan & Claire waiting in line to go into their first day of 2nd grade. They are bummed that they are not in the same class this year. They have been buddies for the past two years being put in the same class. They are looking forward to recess and lunch where they can hang out.

Claire, Morgan and Co. spotted Taylor (Morgan's sister) while they were at their first recess. She was just going into school to start PM kindergarden so they all ran over to give her a hug for good luck! Such sweet girls....

This summer sure was fun but we were all ready to see our friends and get back to our schedule. It is a busy one....Dalon is now playing the saxaphone, is a webelos scout and plays soccer. Claire just started piano, just joined Brownies and also plays soccer ~ mom is definately a taxi after 3:30pm and (never thought I would say this....) officially a SOCCER MOM!

Back to School to Bring in Supplies

So do you think he is excited?? Dalon outside his 5th grade classroom

Getting comfy in the hand chair by the reading center in his room

Claire and Mrs. Donohoo - her 1st pick for her teacher and she got her! So excited!

Claire getting comfy at her desk!

Happy Mothers Day!!!

My kids are the best!! They each made me a beautiful card at school and spent so much time planning and keeping their gifts to me a secret. That is soooo hard for them. They also went with Dad and each got me a charm for my pandora bracelet! Mothers Day is wonderful but I feel blessed each and every day that I get to spend with them. I love being Dalon and Claire's mom!

Claire showing her card to Granny

Dalon being Dalon ... hardly sits still long enough for me to get a shot of him & Granny

These days are usually really rushed...didn't get a shot of Mama Betty or Nana!!!

And we celebrated Jen & Nate's birthday! Where's Nate? He is usually trying to get out of my pictures...

4th Grade Fiesta

In Fourth Grade Dalon studied (and was tested on) all of the states, capitals and the regions themselves and what they each are known for. The southwest region was last so they celebrate by doing a fiesta...All the mom's brought in their families favorite mexican dishes and Dalon's suggestion was guacamole and chips! Wow... there was two tables full of homemade tamales as well as some taco bell ~ Can you guess what was gone first? Yep... the Taco Bell

"The gang" they did this by themselves!! I love to see the girls and boys sit together by choice especially at this age ~ They are usually on opposite sides of the room. This is a neat group of kids, they are all so cute and fun. I have really had fun watching them grow as I have worked with them since Kindergarden!!!

Primrose Farm Field Trip with 4th Grade

Primrose Farm is a fully functioning 1930's farm. It is a property of the St. Charles Park District. The kids were really shocked to see how almost everything was done by hand. No big machines like we have today.

Cranking each ear of corn by hand through this device to skin the kernels off of each ear

Dalon thought this was quite fun and silly at the same time. This is a fake cow so you can practice your milking skills before milking a real one.

Happy 100th Birthday Boy Scouts!!!

Pack #105 went to see an exhibit that came to the Geneva History Center for a month honoring the Boy Scout 100 year birthday.

The boys got to see what a scout looked like and what kind of supplies he carried to camp out.

The uniform for a Cub Scout 100 yrs. ago ~ funny to see that the uniform is almost exactly like the one the boys have today!